Down three starters last night against the dismantled Philadelphia 76ers, the Boston Celtics could have easily taken the night off. Instead, the “stay-ready group” dominated from start to finish in a resounding 123-105 victory at the Garden.
One player who made the most of his opportunity was newly acquired wing Torrey Craig. In 20 minutes of action, Craig chipped in 12 points with 4 rebounds (all offensive).
Following the Jaden Springer trade at the February trade deadline, the team had an open roster spot and filled it by signing Craig via the buyout market. In his first few games with the C’s, Craig has made a name for himself on the defensive end, including notching four blocks in his first two games with the team. In a recent interview, Craig spoke on the importance of establishing himself on the defensive end:
Asked Torrey Craig about his mindset leading to his 3 blocks last night:
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) February 21, 2025
“I just want to continue setting the tone for the team — make guys have to work for every basket... I want to contest everything and try to block everything that comes to the rim. I want us to have that… pic.twitter.com/F8IJTRGkee
"I just want to continue setting the tone for the team, make guys have to work for every basket, I want to contest everything and try to block everything that comes to the rim. I want us to have that kind of mindset as a team, and I think we’ll be that much harder to play against."Torrey Craig, Celtics wing
Aside from his prowess on the defensive end, Craig is also a sniper from three-point range. Since joining the Celtics, Torrey has converted on 40% of his attempts and hasn’t shot less than 39% in his last three seasons. He presents the ideal three-and-d option for the team and fits perfectly into coach Joe Mazzulla’s 5-out offensive approach.
Additionally, Craig has 75 games of playoff experience from his stints with the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets, and in those games has made 38% of his three-pointers.
The Celtics rotation may be solidified after bringing back nearly everyone from last season’s playoff run. But between his big-game experience, and ability to thrive on both ends of the court, there need to be minutes available for Torrey Craig.